1980–81 in English football

The 1980-81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.

Overview

The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889. This was to be effective from the following season on.

First Division

The 1980-81 season saw Ron Saunders complete Aston Villa's revival, as they ended their 71-year wait for the league championship trophy. They competed in a two-horse race with Ipswich Town during the final stages of the season before pipping the Suffolk side at the post. Liverpool slipped into fourth place but compensated for this downfall by lifting the European Cup and their first-ever League Cup. But Manchester United failed to make the top five and this shortcoming cost Dave Sexton his manager's job. He was succeeded by Ron Atkinson, who had just finished fourth in the league and reached the UEFA Cup quarter finals with an impressive West Bromwich Albion side - who would suffer a rapid decline after Atkinson's departure.

Crystal Palace endured a dreadful season with just six wins. They were joined in the Second Division by also-doomed Norwich City and Leicester City.

Second Division

FA Cup holders West Ham United regained their First Division status by lifting the Second Division championship trophy. They were joined by Notts County and Swansea City, completing a meteoric rise under John Toshack, from the Fourth Division to the First in just four years.

Both Bristol clubs were relegated from the Second Division in 1980-81. They were joined in the drop zone by Preston North End.

Third Division

Rotherham United, Barnsley and Charlton Athletic occupied the promotion places in the Third Division. Hull City, Blackpool and Colchester United were joined in the Third Division drop zone by Sheffield United - who just seven years earlier had finished sixth in the First Division.

Fourth Division

Southend United, Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers and Wimbledon occupied the four promotion places in the Fourth Division. There were no movements between the Fourth Division and the Alliance Premier League as the re-election system went in favour of the league's bottom four clubs.

FA Cup

Inspired by Ricardo Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles, World Cup winners with Argentina in 1978, Tottenham Hotspur overcame Manchester City in the FA Cup final replay to lift their first major trophy under the management of Keith Burkinshaw.

League Cup

Liverpool added to their European Cup triumph with their first-ever League Cup, beating West Ham 2-1 in a replay.

European football

English clubs continued their dominance of European football. Liverpool won the European Cup, ensuring that the European Cup remained in English hands for the fifth year running. Bobby Robson proved his managerial credentials by bringing UEFA Cup glory to Ipswich Town, who had narrowly missed out on the league title.

Star players

*High scoring defensive midfielder John Wark was credited for his achievements at UEFA Cup Winners Ipswich Town by the PFA, who elected him Player of the Year.
*Aston Villa's promising young forward Gary Shaw added the PFA Young Player of the Year award to his league championship medal.
*The FWA voted Ipswich's Dutch winger Frans Thijssen as their Player of the Year.
*West Bromwich Albion midfielders Bryan Robson and Remi Moses became two of the most feared players in the league and would soon follow their manager Ron Atkinson to Manchester United.

Star managers

*Ron Saunders ended Aston Villa's 71-year wait for the league championship trophy by pipping Ipswich Town at the post.
*Bob Paisley made up for Liverpool's disappointing league form with success in the European Cup and League Cup.
*Bobby Robson couldn't quite bring the league championship trophy to Ipswich Town but compensated by bringing them the UEFA Cup.
*Keith Burkinshaw completed his rebuilding programme at Tottenham Hotspur by yielding an FA Cup triumph.
*John Lyall had another successful season with West Ham United as they won promotion to the First Division.
*John Toshack completed the quickest rise through the Football League with Swansea City, who climbed from the Fourth Division to the First Division with three promotions in four seasons.
*Ron Atkinson took West Bromwich Albion to fourth place in the league to attain their second UEFA Cup place in three seasons.
*Terry Neill guided Arsenal to third place in the league to ensure UEFA Cup qualification.
*Jimmy Sirrel took Notts County into the First Division for the first time in nearly 60 years.
*Norman Hunter attained promotion to the Second Division with Barnsley.

Honours

=Third Division=

Bishop's Stortford won the FA Trophy, while Whickham lifted the FA Vase.